Being daballe is simply a privilege to the child as well as the mother. Therefore, the Abba Gada in the Oromo Gada system is rightfully considered as the prime minister rather than a president who can make decisions alone. <> So far different scholars have used different terms to express the generational relationship social stratification among the Boran. For instance, Haberland and Asmarom vary from the former model in that the fifth Gadaa grade (raba) takes five years and the seventh, eighth, ni1nth and tenth Gadaa grades (i.e. Gadaa[1] (Oromo: Gadaa; literally: era) is the indigenous democratic system of governance used by the Oromos in Ethiopia and northern Kenya. The president was called the Abba boku. Once they are elected freely and fairly, they will remain de facto councilors of their Gadaa class for two consecutive Gadaa grades (i.e. However []. Councils like these have sat down under similar circumstances in the gentle late afternoon sun, for the last five hundred years. Moreover, as discussed elsewhere, age-sets cross-cut Gadaa classes and moieties and eventually put the Gadaa system into motion. Herds of cattle or camels were not allowed to go there unless there was an extremely severe drought. [1] It is also practiced by the Konso and Gedeo people of southern Ethiopia. Among other Gadaa businesses conducted at this level, the following are the most striking ones: First, it is at this grade where the Gadaa class and age-sets come into play as formal corporate groups. 0000001892 00000 n He takes a seat at one end of the council as he has done at the beginning of his rule, eight years in total. That is, the father and the son cannot be in the same (first or second hemicycle) at the same time. Oratory, the art of public speaking, is highly valued in Oromo society; the forms of delivery, the wit of the speaker, his tone of voice, his posture, eye contact and ability to command the attention of the audience are skills to be honed and admired. Moreover, Gada is transformed along radically different lines, what Asmarom calls a system of temporal differentiation of society having little to do with age. The more the elements decrease (e.g. Education and enculturation occur through music. In this respect, Asmarom draws that the Gadaa System was originally an age organization. On the other hand, it allows the Boran people to watch the performance and credibility of the elected (de facto) leaders. . For instance, the archaic nomenclatures to these Gadaa class orders are Birmaji, Horota, Bichile, Dulo, and Robale. Among such concepts the following are notorious: age-sets, generation, generation-sets (also known as Gadaa classes or cohorts) and others. Regarding persons with special responsibilities, the Abba Gadaa, the elected chairman of the class leadership presides over the assembly. The first has nothing to do with genealogical ties. Young men are also trained to become junior warriors by taking part in war campaigns and hunting large animals; they learn the practical skills of warfare, military organization, and fighting so that they can engage in battle to defend their country and economic resources. The Abagadha and others of his age pass through an education system that will last for forty years after which he will take over the leadership as Abagadha. Hence elementary age-sets are organized in such a way that male generations who are approximately the same age share similar collective military, economic, political or ritual responsibilities. The first meeting takes place before they depart to different regions of Borana for community protection. Both sets of groups pass from one stage of development to the next every eight years. The end of a discussion on issues was accepted without question and the Abba Muriti, the Father of Resolution, was present to make sure that those present in the discussion adhered to this requirement. The name of the most senior man in each group becomes the name of the group as a whole. 0000013416 00000 n It was the central institution of the Oromo people that contain complex and extraordinary features. Riley outlines their two options: They can either kill themselves or wait it out and savor whatever time they have left . Whereas Gadaa grades are the phases of development through which the members pass. Participatory impact assessment of ticks on Borana cattle milk production was conducted from January 2010 to July 2010. This is the peak of the social and political career of Gadaa and the optimum age of having maturity skill and capacity of holding and practically showing societal responsibilities. Some of these old men may have also sat in the Borana Assembly, the 'Salgan ya'a Borana. The Abba Gadas: The Rich Ancient Borana Leadership System (2019) by Shujaa StoriesNational Museums of Kenya. A few of them are pulling at their scraggly white and ochre beards while nodding in agreement. Hence, it is customary to move from home o home to find their age-mates. In the Borana community, where many elements of the Gadaa system still exist, the assembly known as Gumi Gayyo (the assembly of multitudes) brings together every type of important living leaders, such as living Abba Gaddas, the qaallus, age-set councilors, clan leaders and Gadaa councilors, and other concerned individuals to make or amend or change laws and rules every eight years. Since the principle of five intervals stated hereinabove, in most cases, are not observed among the Boran people, children continue to be born (before the father reaches fifth Gadaa grade or after the father passed this stage). Perhaps, the Age-set system might have imitated the natural course of human physical development to the structure the society. The people would hold elections to elect a new crop of leaders every eight years according to tradition, Indeed, democracy existed in Africa long before the white man ever set foot on the African continent and strong, age old dynasties are not the preserve of Europe and Asia. At Raba (Gadaa grade V) the basic organization of this executive organ (i.e. The Eleven Regular Gadaa cycle among the Boran Among the Boran people the Gadaa System embraces eleven basic Gadaa grades: five active, five passive and one liminal (full retirement) stage. Besides being a supreme spirituality in charge of prayer in all Borana gatherings, including the Borana parliament, he is also in charge of administration, who appoints other Qalu, putting them in charge of smaller administration units, which can be equated to a present state president, a Qalu who in turn appoints other smaller administrators in his jurisdiction called Jalab (governor) who are respectively in charge of smaller administration, meaning one Qalu is in charge of many Jalab under his state. 185 32 . Furthermore, Abba Gadaa (the president) belonging to the outgoing Gadaa Council has to appoint (before handing over the power to the incoming Gadaa class) six men from among the ex-members of the Gadaa Council that are now in the semi-retired (yuuba) Gadaa grade. Below this assembly was the Kenyan MCA equivalent, the councillors, Hayyus who made the less weighty decisions. Indigenous knowledge of the Oromo community in Ethiopia in general and Borana pastoralists in particular were . The parliament, called Gumi Gayo, functions just like a present day senate with the same roles. Russ Heltman. The second is a system in which the members are recruited on the bases of genealogical generation. 5 X 8) ensures not only power transfer but also the maintenance of quality leadership thereof. Change), You are commenting using your Facebook account. There was no taxation under this system except that Gadaaleaders and their families were provided with necessary materials, such as food, cloth, and house. However, the Sakuye herd camels primarily, whereas the Borana are mostly a cattle people. A party come to power once every forty years. The other Gada assemblies, Gada Hawattu and Gada Konnitu, are the assembly of leaders from Hawattu and Konnitu clan of Goona moiety of the Borana society. The five Gadaa parties have different names among Boorana, Maccaa-Tuulama, Arsii, Gujii and Ituu-Humbannaa.[22][23]. As a result, we will have early born and late-born sons. This is the Adula council; they have come to debate as to who should manage the wells. 0000025790 00000 n Borana have their own form of an overhaul system for the last 567 years that is recognized by UNESCO as a heritage that needs to be protected. They are economically affected and politically caught between these colonial governments and many struggles between them. }}vk.p-!)Kzp5U`kU }rnJ^eV>U59#UKXs/Vr*Y%=:1E&eGFP*9yfpOiU*?h U01|G})\_ $ hiM.^{& zDgA(_-S30`s/ar:Q`To{22L1_'=ak$yxrj}s2b7Q*O)`dkRRB5%L+LNkTbBBZ*JagM:MbgumA*EhQ6 The Gadaa system as a whole provided the machinery for democratic rule and enjoyment of maximum liberty for the people. xZmoF a>JX4z9/n}PlVW?#z[ 33~|&YiG['>{X__qH:AB)pMu}:\_n}HVg%/W|-CL;Ok#dmm6U%Y+Y%Vv8:'qS#{B\=y! Hence the coming to power of each Gadaa class once within forty years (i.e. Historically, the gada system most likely started out as a system of age-sets. Junior gamme and senior gamme are the sons of two distinct Gadaa classes and they are named after the Abba Gadaa (Gadaa class) in power. No Borana gatherings are recognized without the presence of either Fite Qalu or Qalu who opens the gatherings with a prayer. what is ward 4 altnagelvin hospital. @F% In his comparative analysis of East African age-sets system. Broadly speaking, the age-set system of social organization is common to east African indigenous peoples. The other council-men bow in reverence. Though the nomenclature of each five cyclic Gadaa classes varies across the Oromo land, in essence, all are the same. Accordingly, the appointed individuals will become junior councilors for the incoming senior Gadaa councilors. He is a councilor representing his clan like the rest of the councilors with the same and equal vote and authority when a decision is to be made. They believe that they are defenders of Borana identity symbolized by the guutu, a braided tuft of hair on the top of the head. For instance, Leus model recognizes eleven Gadaa grades and all bear eight years constituting in sum eighty-eight years. in the fourth year of Abba Gadaas term office). Abba Gadas: The Ancient Borana Leadership SystemAcross the dusty plains, under the shade of acacia trees six old men can be seen sitting together. <<51B1CC5AE372B54BB6E33B35BC5182B1>]/Prev 120898>> Instead, they shall be disciplined verbally and psychologically. Even other children who take refuge to a home of daballe will also be excused from any form of punishment. The discrepancy between the two models of counting amounts to three years and it arises from the timing of the Power (ballii) transfer ceremony. However, for the purpose of this study, it refers to the intergenerational relationship but quite different from its common understandings. Gadaamoojjii Men in the final grade of Gada cycle (72-80 years old) or the retired The rules are to be enforced by different agents who work together. However, for Lues all the four yuuba Gadaa grades constitute twenty-four years in sum. [1] It is also practiced by the Konso and Gedeo people of southern Ethiopia. Across the dusty plains, under the shade of the acacia, six old men regard one another. Amongst the Borana, the people would hold elections to elect a new crop of leaders every eight years according to tradition. 4X8). The Gadaa System distributes power across generations and down to community members and creates a strong link between successive generations. The Karrayyu clan has one Adula Hayyu in Gada Harboora. ]OYQP"Turc/"vw@kO80;:qcGx$aAcR!C:yawD$'em -S+|$vwxpAF$>KI]fOX=Vm5 Wu "QP4,CRs(Jq However, the Boran did adopt a practical solution to the gap created due to late born sons, commonly known as sons of elders (ilmaan jaarsaa); It refers to sons born to a man that has passed the stage of fatherhood, the Raba grade). Post author: Post published: December 1, 2021 Post category: usmc drill instructor speech Post comments: family tree vincent tan first wife family tree vincent tan first wife Where a rightly born son perfectly fits into the principle, the late-born sons cannot, and the option they have is to run behind their elder brothers. It was purely invented by the Oromo and it is one of the most remarkable political systems which was highly democratic with effective legislative and judicial institutions. The Concept of Peace in the Oromo Gadaa System: Its Mechanisms and Moral Dimension. Moreover, the passage of time has no subjective meaning unless it is punctuated with a transitional phenomenon, whether it is the climbing of the dock, periodic saturnalias, rites of passage, or graduation ceremonies. As younger men, some of these old men may have also sat in the Borana Assembly or the Salgan yaa Borana. U%.T syO pvyc{CC7-uZ 1 G J6@H-##Ot@rDMp~ $tZ First and foremost, the term generation does not mean age-peers as understood in the West. There may be no refuge left for them in severe droughts. After a few minutes, the head of the council arrives, the Abba Gada or father of Gada as he was called in the Borana tongue. The class in power is headed by Abba Gadaa in Borana, Abba Bokku elsewhere. Gada Arboora The term or the name given to the first and most senior institution of one of the three institutional pillars of Gada (Yaa'a Gada Sadeenii) Gada Sadeenii (the three pillars of Gada) in Oromo-Borana Gada system that function together as a single body. Second, in Boran Gadaa System there are five Gadaa classes that are basically cyclic (i.e. 216 0 obj <>stream [11] It is the brainchild of Oromo from the Madda Walabu district of Oromia. However, in the history of Boran Gadaa leadership, the takeover ceremony was delayed in 1960. Friday 28 April, 2023 Horn Affairs News Articles Interviews 0000001570 00000 n It is, therefore, wrong to conceive the idea of retirement or leaving the office here as in the west where a person is relieved from his or her official duties and s/he cannot come back to leadership positions. Boranas also have special warriors that defend the community from any enemies. The second has little to do with age. There is no formal rite of passage to this Gadaa grade unlike the case of passage to junior gamme. of the abba gada - can be held by either moiety. The class forms its own internal officials (adula hayyus) and its own assembly (yaaaa). 0000013193 00000 n [19], The Gadaa society was structured into peer groups based on chronological age or genealogical generation called Luba. 0000008615 00000 n There are five Gadaa parties known as shanan Gadaa Oromoo. As of today the Borana boundaries were infiltrated by all three current governments surrounding the Borana territory which include Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia. They are in the last stage to the Gadaa stage and are in one part of stages of Borana system. Lastly, they remain as an informal group of friends and kinsmen rather than as members of a Gadaa class until they reach the third Gadaa grade. Still academically debatable as Oromo women have no influences throughout the age of Gadaa decree or clan leadership structure but the wife of designated Abbaa Gadaa is equitably treated like the Abbaa Gadaa himself. In this respect, Gadaa is a holistic (social, economic, political and religious) system in essence and perhaps this fact made it difficult to define unanimously the Gadaa system by simple and clear terms. Obviously, this principle is ideal in a sense that most but not all Boran people do observe the rule. 0000002285 00000 n His eyes still shine with the rigors of his youth. Page 1 of 1. Indigenous democratic system of governance used by Oromo people, Asmarom Legesse, "Gadaa: Three Approaches to the Study of African Society", 1973, Asmarom Legesse, "Oromo Democracy: an Indigenous African Political System", 2006, Donald Levine, "Greater Ethiopia: The Evolution of a Multiethnic Society", 1974, Z. Sirna, "Ethiopia: When the Gadaa Democracy Rules in a Federal State", 2012, "Gada system, an indigenous democratic socio-political system of the Oromo", "Sustaining generations of Indigenous voices: Reclaiming language and integrating multimedia technology", "The Gadaa System and Some of Its Institutions among the Booranaa: A Historical Perspective", "A heroic send-off for Aliyi Cirri, a pioneer Oromo freedom fighter whose courage and bravery inspired generations", "The Gada sysytem; full Dimocratical politics of Oromo;71stBorana BalliHand overing Day Febrawary 2009/20017:The Gada of Kura Jarso", "Gada System inscribed in UNESCO as Intangible World Heritage", "The 2015 Commemoration of Odaa-Bultum (One of the Major Oromo Gadaa System's Administrative Centers)", "A Journey to Revitalizing Gadaa at Odaa Hullee: Tracing Jimma University's Unwavering Commitment", "A Future Gaze: Gadaa Oriented Constitutional Structure for Oromia", "Waa'ee Gadaa wantoota beekuu qabdan shan", "BitGadaa | Futuristic African Democracy", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gadaa&oldid=1131025659, Articles with dead external links from December 2022, Articles with permanently dead external links, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0. The Borana are known by a generation set Organization, which is believed to guide every aspect of their life, called off the Gadaa system and Borana people are notable for their historic Gadda political system. Hence, among the Borana, late-born sons of a man should be introduced to the same Gadaa grade as his brothers despite the difference in their age. The Liiban Borana often refers to themselves as Sarkamtu. This . This was a very unusual moment in the Boran history of power transfer ceremonies. Economically, from those time immemorial up to date Borana have laws that are passed in the Gumi Gayo covering Borana traditional land and natural resources. Just another site . Each luba consists of all of the sons in another particular class. The Borana traditional religion is monotheistic; they worship Waaq (or Waaq, Waaqa or Wak). Like modern parliaments today this Borana parliament would summon sittings to make, repeal or ensure that the laws were being followed. The assembly had the president, two vice presidents and six other very important officials who run the Borana administration. Credits: StoryResearch field work was undertaken in Samburu and Marsabit (for Gabbra, Samburu, Rendille, Saakuye, Dasanach, Elmolo, Waayu a.k.a Waata, and Burji superheroes/heroines), Embu and Tharaka (for Aembu, Tharaka, Ameru and Mbeere superheroes/heroines), Mombasa ( for Boni, Swahili, Pokomo, Segeju and Bajuni superheroes/heroines)and Taita-Taveta/Voi (for Taveta superheroes/heroines) capturing all information about the heroes from the 30 selected ethnic groups/communities by Museums research team.National Museums of Kenya - ContributorsMzalendo Kibunjia (PhD) - Director GeneralPurity Kiura (PhD) - Director Antiquities, Sites & MonumentsJulias Juma Ogega - Senior Curator/Research ScientistNjuguna Gichere - Research ScientistLydia Gatundu - Art CuratorEmmanuel Kariuki - Exhibit DesignerPhilemon Nyamanga - Curator/Research ScientistMercy Gakii - Curator/Research ScientistImelda Muoti - Curator/ArchivistInnocent Nyaga - Marketing OfficerSuzanne Wanjaria - Exhibits DesignerRay Balongo Khaemba - Senior Collection ManagerRaphael Igombo - Education OfficerNature Kenya - Other ContributorsThe East Africa Natural History Society (EANHS)EditingDaisy Okoti - Shujaa Stories LtdShani Mutarura - Shujaa Stories LtdJeff Muchina- Shujaa Stories LtdBrian Kiraga - Shujaa Stories LtdIllustrationsMasidza Sande Galavu - Shujaa Stories LtdMartha Shavuya Galavu - Shujaa Stories LtdPhotographyEddy Ochieng - National Museums of KenyaLinda Tambo - Shujaa Stories LtdJuelz Laval - Shujaa Stories Ltd, Abba Gadas: The Ancient Borana Leadership System. In the interpretation (conception) of the Gadaa system, there are several concepts that are understood differently by different scholars. However, they live in different and far area; their indigenous water management system is the same. During the ceremony, the boy sang their age-set songs (tunnee) and the songs of Gadaa passage (mokkee). Each of the semi-retired Gadaa grades bears eight years period and in sum covers thirty-two years (i.e. The Conscripts (torbie) 36 comprising seven (short-term agents). However, others recognize the eleven Gadaa grades but they vary on the question of how long a Gadaa grade take in years. Participedia Contributors, "The Gadaa System of the Oromo People," last modified September 7, 2018, Retrieved from, This page was last edited on 2 January 2023, at 05:08. The distribution of genealogical generations (G). %%EOF 185 0 obj <> endobj Regarding their authority in all the matters regarding the Borana society, all the three Abba Gadas and the other three Adula Hayyus (senior councilor) have the same and equal authority, muraan wal-qixxe. This begins when sons join the system as members of Gadaa class (generation class or set) forty years after their fathers and continue passing from one Gadaa grade to the next every eight years. This article is about East African ethnic group. @ gad&Cv7pc[D.~"= vadR,sH!~(lS=5nTy %MtaZ,q'I32#N+ ~t6>Es){6?9d(HDx&Axdy[?T ` L(M? |+x#nADbiCg_ SC^Y|s+WR?bry06NRIQ#kE>MOwVMIVui0CjWP!]z+*UrP% 6iy^?haM?S*p]vo+SRX'u?0TRp4r";o_YJ9PXEL' H+wdXp+AuH>NrKIz8}OcN;vcXpg e$ It is an indigenous system of government where leaders are elected to position of authority through the will and active participation of the people they represent.For people who have studied the system and worked with the Gada Councilors, it is absolutely clear that Gada is a functioning democracy. The class in power is headed by Abba Gadaa in Borana, Abba Bokku elsewhere. Besides, the term generation has been used in different literature in connection with kinship descent, cohort, life stage and historical periods, which further complicate it. Defining the term generation is not an easy task especially in a relation to its socio-political relevance for peoples responsibilities and rights characterization. These parties have different names in different parts of Oromia as the result of Oromo expansion and the establishment of different autonomous administrative systems. Hence Gadaa class is the cross-cutting three organizations: age-sets, generation-set, and moieties, (luba) and the age-sets (hariyya). There may be no refuge left for them in severe droughts. The Borana have bee ruled by 43 abba gada since then, which may be 540 years ago (1449), and this is also confirmed by Borbor Bule (Golloo Huqqa, 1996). Leaders are not only elected to position of authority to maintain the laws and the rules of the land but also made accountable for every decision they make during their tenure as councilors of their own constituency and leaders of the society.According to the Borana Oromo Gada System, the Gada is made up of three assemblies of active leaders and their immediate family members called Yaaa. The members are recruited based on genealogical generations (2). In this respect, Gadaa is a holistic (social, economic, political and religious) system in essence and perhaps this fact made it difficult to define unanimously the Gadaa system by simple and clear terms. For example, certain areas, such as forests, were set aside as drought refuge.